Endoscopic reposable surgical clip applier

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to endoscopic reposable surgical clip appliers having a reusable handle assembly, at least one reusable shaft assembly, and at least one disposable clip cartridge assembly.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a housing assembly including a housing, an actuation member and a drive member, wherein actuation of the actuation member causes actuation of the drive member;   a first assembly including a first drive assembly and being selectively engagable with the housing assembly, the first assembly configured to house a plurality of surgical clips therein, wherein when the first assembly is engaged with the housing assembly, actuation of the drive member of the housing assembly causes actuation of the first drive assembly of the first assembly; and   a second assembly including a second drive assembly and being selectively engagable with the housing assembly, the second assembly configured to house exactly one surgical clip therein, wherein the second drive assembly is different than the first drive assembly, and wherein when the second assembly is engaged with the housing assembly, actuation of the drive member of the housing assembly causes actuation of the second drive assembly of the second assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 2 , wherein when the first assembly is engaged with the housing assembly, actuation of the drive member of the housing assembly causes actuation of the first drive assembly of the first assembly which results in ejection of one surgical clip of the plurality of surgical clips when the plurality of surgical clips are housed within the first assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 3 , wherein when the second assembly is engaged with the housing assembly, actuation of the drive member of the housing assembly causes actuation of the second drive assembly of the second assembly which results in ejection of the one surgical clip when the one surgical clip is disposed within the second assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 2 , further comprising a release lever supported on the housing of the housing assembly, wherein the release lever includes a catch for engaging and securing one of the first assembly or the second assembly that is selectively engaged with the housing assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 5 , wherein the catch is configured to engage and secure the second assembly that is selectively engaged with the housing assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 2 , wherein the first assembly includes an outer tube defining a lumen therethrough, and wherein the first assembly includes a pair of jaws pivotably and fixedly supported in and extending from a distal end of the outer tube. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 7 , wherein the second assembly includes an outer tube defining a lumen therethrough, and wherein the second assembly includes a pair of jaws fixedly supported in and extending from a distal end of the outer tube. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 8 , wherein the first assembly includes an inner shaft slidably supported within the lumen of the outer tube, the inner shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the inner shaft being operatively engaged with the pair of jaws to effectuate an opening and a closing of the pair of jaws upon an axial translation of the inner shaft relative to the outer tube. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , wherein the second assembly includes a spindle slidably supported in the lumen of the outer tube, the spindle including a proximal end and a distal end, the spindle being translatable between a proximal position whereby the pair of jaws is opened and a distal position whereby the pair of jaws is closed. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 10 , wherein the first drive assembly of the first assembly includes a cartridge cylinder defining a bore therein, a cartridge plunger slidably supported in the bore of the cartridge cylinder, a first biasing member disposed within the bore of the cartridge cylinder and interposed between a proximal end wall of the cartridge cylinder and the cartridge plunger, and a second biasing member interposed between a proximal end of the outer tube and the cartridge plunger. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein the second drive assembly of the second assembly includes a cartridge cylinder defining a bore therein, a cartridge plunger slidably supported in the bore of the cartridge cylinder, a pair of opposed fingers projecting from the cartridge cylinder, a first biasing member disposed about the cartridge cylinder and interposed between a proximal flange supported on the cartridge cylinder and the pair of opposed fingers, and a second biasing member interposed between a proximal end of the outer tube and the cartridge plunger. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a housing assembly including a housing, an actuation member and a drive member, wherein actuation of the actuation member causes actuation of the drive member;   a first assembly including a first drive assembly and an outer tube defining a lumen therethrough, the first assembly being selectively engagable with the housing assembly, wherein when the first assembly is engaged with the housing assembly, actuation of the actuation member causes actuation of the first drive assembly of the first assembly; and   a second assembly including a second drive assembly and an outer tube defining a lumen therethrough, the second assembly being selectively engagable with the housing assembly, wherein the second drive assembly is different than the first drive assembly, and wherein when the second assembly is engaged with the housing assembly, actuation of the actuation member causes actuation of the second drive assembly of the second assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , further comprising a release lever supported on the housing of the housing assembly, wherein the release lever includes a catch for engaging one of the first assembly or the second assembly that is selectively engaged with the housing assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein the first assembly includes an outer tube defining a lumen therethrough, and wherein the first assembly includes a pair of jaws pivotably and fixedly supported in and extending from a distal end of the outer tube. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the second assembly includes an outer tube defining a lumen therethrough, and wherein the second assembly includes a pair of jaws fixedly supported in and extending from a distal end of the outer tube. 
     
     
         17 . A surgical clip applier, comprising:
 a housing assembly including a housing, an actuation member and a drive member, wherein actuation of the actuation member causes actuation of the drive member;   a first elongated assembly including a first drive assembly and being selectively engagable with the housing assembly, the first elongated assembly configured to house a plurality of surgical clips therein, wherein when the first elongated assembly is engaged with the housing assembly, actuation of the actuation member causes actuation of the first drive assembly of the first elongated assembly;   a second elongated assembly including a second drive assembly and being selectively engagable with the housing assembly, the second elongated assembly being configured to selectively hold and form exactly one surgical clip at a time, wherein when the second elongated assembly is engaged with the housing assembly, actuation of the actuation member causes actuation of the second drive assembly of the second elongated assembly; and   a release lever supported on the housing of the housing assembly and including a catch for engaging one of the first elongated assembly or the second elongated assembly that is engaged with the housing assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 17 , wherein the first elongated assembly includes an outer tube defining a lumen therethrough, and a pair of jaws pivotably and fixedly supported in and extending from a distal end of the outer tube. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 18 , wherein the second elongated assembly includes an outer tube defining a lumen therethrough, and a pair of jaws fixedly supported in and extending from a distal end of the outer tube. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 19 , wherein the first elongated assembly includes an inner shaft slidably supported within the lumen of the outer tube, the inner shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the inner shaft being operatively engaged with the pair of jaws to effectuate opening and closing of the pair of jaws upon an axial translation of the inner shaft relative to the outer tube. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical clip applier according to  claim 20 , wherein the second elongated assembly includes a spindle slidably supported in the lumen of the outer tube, the spindle including a proximal end and a distal end, the spindle being translatable between a proximal position whereby the pair of jaws is opened and a distal position whereby the pair of jaws is closed.